Cyclonic surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises cyclone downstream from the dirty air inlet and an openable pre-motor filter chamber. The pre-motor filter chamber is openable with the cyclone chamber and/or the dirt collection chamber associated with the cyclone chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 (a) a dirty air inlet; 
 (b) a filtration apparatus comprising a cyclone downstream from the dirty air inlet, the cyclone having a cyclone air outlet; 
 (c) a cyclone dirt collection chamber; 
 (d) a pre-motor filter chamber comprising a pre-motor filter defined by a pre-motor filter housing, wherein the pre-motor filter housing defines a volume that is distinct from the dirt collection chamber; 
 (e) a suction motor; and, 
 (f) a clean air outlet downstream from the suction motor, 
 wherein the cyclone dirt collection chamber and the pre-motor filter chamber are concurrently openable. 
 
     
     
       2. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone is openable. 
     
     
       3. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone, the dirt collection chamber and the pre-motor filter chamber are concurrently openable. 
     
     
       4. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the dirt collection chamber is positioned around at least a portion of the cyclone. 
     
     
       5. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the dirt collection chamber has a dirt collection surface that is moveable, the cyclone has a cyclone wall that is moveable and is connected to the moveable dirt collection surface, whereby both the cyclone wall and the dirt collection surface are moveable concurrently such that the cyclone, the dirt collection chamber and the pre-motor filter chamber are concurrently emptyable. 
     
     
       6. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the dirt collection surface and the cyclone wall comprise a pivoting wall. 
     
     
       7. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the cyclone wall includes a vortex finder mounted thereto. 
     
     
       8. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the pivoting wall is a lower surface of the cyclone and the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
       9. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone is inverted. 
     
     
       10. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pre-motor filter chamber is positioned laterally from the cyclone. 
     
     
       11. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pre-motor filter comprises a headspace positioned below the pre-motor filter. 
     
     
       12. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the suction motor is positioned adjacent the cyclone and the pre-motor filter. 
     
     
       13. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein surface cleaning apparatus comprises a hand held vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
       14. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a headspace is provided between the pre-motor filter and an openable door. 
     
     
       15. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the suction motor is positioned axially aligned with the pre-motor filter. 
     
     
       16. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the pre-motor filter chamber is positioned laterally from the cyclone. 
     
     
       17. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 (a) a dirty air inlet; 
 (b) a filtration apparatus comprising a cyclone downstream from the dirty air inlet, the cyclone having a cyclone air outlet; 
 (c) a cyclone dirt collection chamber; 
 (d) a pre-motor filter chamber comprising a pre-motor filter defined by a pre-motor filter housing, wherein the pre-motor filter housing defines a volume that is distinct from the dirt collection chamber; 
 (e) a suction motor; and, 
 (f) a clean air outlet downstream from the suction motor, 
 wherein the cyclone and the pre-motor filter chamber are concurrently openable exposing a dirt collection surface. 
 
     
     
       18. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the pre-motor filter chamber is positioned laterally from the cyclone. 
     
     
       19. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the suction motor is positioned adjacent the cyclone and the pre-motor filter. 
     
     
       20. The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 19  wherein surface cleaning apparatus comprises a hand held vacuum cleaner.